By
Laura Hyde |
Scillonian III, a passenger ferry operated by Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, has retired from service after sailing its final voyage on 8 November 2026. For 50 years, the ship transported passengers between Penzance in Cornwall, UK, and St Mary’s on the Isle of Scilly.
The ferry was full for its final 37-mile sailing, where a time capsule containing memories of Scillonian III was sealed in a special ceremony before departure. The time capsule contained messages, photographs and mementoes, historic documents, publications and records, tickets and a letter carried by Scillonian III during her inaugural sailing to Scilly on 25 May 1977.
Since entering service, Scillonian III has carried more than five million passengers to the Isles of Scilly and has travelled more than 780,000 miles – the equivalent of three trips to the moon.
“[This] marks the end of an extraordinary chapter; Scillonian III has been part of the fabric of life in the Isles of Scilly for almost 50 years,” said Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group. “She has carried generations of islanders home, brought families together, taken visitors on their first journey to the islands and been there for countless moments, big and small. For those of us who have had the privilege of working with her, today is incredibly emotional. We know that saying goodbye to Scillonian III will feel very personal for many people, because she has been part of their lives too. So today, we thank Scillonian III for her unwavering service and wish her well as she sails into the next chapter of her history.”
Since 1977, Scillonian III has carried more than five million passengers between Penzance and St Mary’s (Photo: Isles of Scilly Steamship Group)
“Today is an opportunity to recognise the people who made these journeys possible,” Ian Howard, chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group. “I would like to pay tribute to the generations of masters, officers, engineers, pursers, crew members and quay staff who have operated, maintained and cared for this vessel throughout her service. Their dedication and commitment have been at the heart of Scillonian III’s story. As we celebrate her legacy, we also look to the future. While one chapter is coming to a close, the strong connection between the mainland and Scilly continues, built upon the foundations that vessels like Scillonian III have helped create.”
Scillonian III will be replaced by Scillonian IV, which is due to enter service in March 2027. It is the final part of the Steamship Group’s £40 million ($53.6 million) vessel replacement programme dedicated to providing “modern, resilient and future-proof” passenger and freight services for the islands.
Scillonian IV, which left Vietnam for the UK on 31 October 2026, will accommodate 600 passengers (an increase of 24 per cent) and features roll and pitch reduction systems for passenger comfort and modern propulsion technologies for improved efficiency. It is also designed to integrate further enhancements as technology develops.
Read more: Renewing a lifeline for the future of the Isles of Scilly